Elwood Mead, Arid Land Cession, and the Creation of the Wyoming System of Water Rights
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Annals of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal
Publisher
Wyoming State Historical Society
Publication Date
Summer 2005
Abstract
Those acquainted with Wyoming history know that Elwood Mead was Wyoming's first territorial engineer and the father of the "Wyoming System" of water rights. This system has been widely praised as a progressive model and all the Western states, in one form or another, have copied it. Even today, Wyoming's water laws are based on the foundation Mead built during his time in the state from 1888 to 1899. Mead's system has promoted irrigation development and limited expensive litigation for farmers and ranchers. Although Wyoming has less agriculture than its neighboring states of Colorado and Nebraska, this is a result of a short growing season and limited markets and not a flawed legal system. There is more, however, to the story. For Mead, the Wyoming system was supposed to be the opening shot in a war on, what he considered to be, misguided federal land laws.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Daniel. "Elwood Mead, Arid Land Cession, and the Creation of the Wyoming System of Water Rights". Annals of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal, 2005.
